Vendee ends, Volvo closes on Cape Horn

The Vendee Globe ended for another four years yesterday when Norbert Sedlacek finished in 11th place after 126 days at sea. A lot of thinking should go in to the keel designs for the next race. While the existing keels work well in maintaining boat speed, too many are being wrecked or damaged in collisions, putting skippers in jeopardy. I don't know the answer but I would have thought it would be possible to design a weighted, canting keel that is flared on its forward edge in order to deflect a collision.

In the meantime the leaders of the Volvo Ocean race are closing in on Cape Horn in heavy weather, experiencing true southern ocean conditions.